Weekend Words

 From Our Daily Bread Classic Gems...

No Complaints - Read Numbers 14:1-12

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing." - Philippians 2:14

I am sure we would all be surprised if we could hear a recording of our conversations for a single day.  We would be amazed at how much we grumble and complain.

Children grip about homework or washing the dishes.  Mothers complain about having to spend so much time picking up after everybody in the family.  Fathers come home and make bitter remarks about their work.  And so it goes the whole day through.

In our Bible reading today we hear the complaints of the children of Israel who had just come out of Egypt (Numbers 14:2-3).  After all that God had done for them, they should have been grateful and eager to obey Him.  But, because of their unbelief and disobedience, an entire generation never reached the promised land (v. 23).

Today as well, grumblers forfeit God's blessings and spread discouragement to those around them.  That type of attitude is inappropriate for a follower of Christ.  Pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor said: "If your father and mother, your sister and brother, yes even the very cat and dog in your house are not happier for your being a Christian, it is a question whether you really are one or not."

Do our words honor the Lord?  Do we spread joy and encourage others to trust and obey Him?

Reflect and Pray

The Christian with a thankful heart

Who praises God throughout the day

Will never grumble or complain

When things don't go his way. - JDB

A complaining Christian is a contradiction in terms.

From Beside the Still Waters...

Blessings Bring Responsibilities - Read: Deuteronomy 8

"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee." - Deuteronomy 16:17

When we ask God to bless us, we need to remember the responsibility that comes with the answer to our prayer.  Every time God gives us blessings, He wants us to thank and honor Him for them.  "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psalm 107:8).  We should thank God even when our blessings result from our hard work, "for it is he that giveth thee the power to get wealth" (Deuteronomy 8:18).

When we ask blessings of the Lord, we must also remember our responsibility to use them for His glory rather than for self-gratification.  We are always duty bound to share the blessings we receive.  One reason they are given is to see how willing we are to help those in need.  I once heard of a farmer who was blessed with rain all summer while his neighbors received little rain on their fields.  The next winter, this man's neighbors came to buy his excess crops.  But he blessed them to take what they needed without charge and use them.  "The Lord blessed me to see if I am willing to share with people more needy than I."  Such an example should not just stir our admiration but should also inspire us to do the same.

We may never become as rich as Job, but we must always be humble about our possessions as Job was.  Then even if we should lose everything, we can have the same testimony that he had.  "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).

- Fred Beachy - Crofton, KY